Our Issues
Electoral Integrity
Free and fair elections are a necessary condition for democracy. In many parts of the world, however, this basic condition is not met. The Lab works with nonpartisan local organizations around the world to preserve free and fair elections and protect the right to vote.
- A Threat to Judicial Independence: Constitutional Reform Proposals in Mexico
- Denying Justice: Senegal’s Amnesty Law
- Brief of Mexican Bar Association Filed by Stanford Law School Rule of Law Impact Lab
- Brief on behalf of Ambassador Stephen McFarland filed by the SLS Rule of Law Impact Lab before the Guatemalan Constitutional Court
- Le Monde: Senegal: “The new regime must place fundamental rights at the heart of democracy”
Judicial and Prosecutorial Independence and Accountability
Independent judges and prosecutors are crucial for protecting democracy in the face of executive or legislative overreach. They should not face retaliation for upholding the law. At the same time, there must be lawful procedures holding judges and prosecutors accountable if they engage in misconduct or abuse of power. The Lab works with nonpartisan local organizations around the world to preserve judicial and prosecutorial independence and accountability.
- Above the Law: The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Guatemala
- Brief on behalf of the Mexican Bar Association (Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, A.C.) by the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School
- An Independent and Adequately Funded Judiciary is Crucial for Upholding the Rule of Law in Mexico
- Joint Statement on Mexico’s Constitutional Amendment Threatening Judicial Independence
- Federal Electoral Tribunal’s Violation of Supreme Court Injunction and Exclusion of Judicial Branch Nomination Commission Confirms that the Implementation of Mexico’s Judicial Reform is Deeply Flawed
- El Pais: A chance to support Mexico’s resistance to democratic decline – before it’s too late
- The New York Times: Electing Judges in Mexico? It’s a Bad Idea.
- Journal of Democracy: Mexico's democratic disaster
- NY Review of Books: Guatemala: Democracy Imperiled
- The Guardian: The courts separate democracy from autocracy. Will Trump defy them?
- The Guardian: Trump’s attacks on law firms are an attack on law itself
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But in many countries, dissenters, journalists, and independent media outlets are persecuted for reporting the truth, and laws, rules, and regulations are weaponized to suppress and chill free expression. The Lab works with nonpartisan local organizations around the world to preserve the right to free expression.
- Brief on behalf of Article 19-Mexico by the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School
- Brief on behalf of Frank La Rue by the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School
- Foreign Policy: How the U.S. Can Fight for Georgia’s Democracy
- Pause on the Telecommunications Bill: A Democratic Opportunity to Protect Free Expression
Freedom from Discrimination
During and beyond elections, democracy requires that all people are treated as equal. Autocratic regimes advance their agendas by polarizing communities and discriminating against minorities on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, and/or immigration status. The Lab works with nonpartisan local organizations to fight such discrimination.